Stories for July 21st 2010
European farmers want “solid” policies to protect them from Mercosur
The European Farmers and Agri-Cooperatives organizations, Copa-Cogeca, called on Tuesday for a “solid” Common Agriculture Policy, CAP, to protect European farmers from Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay) countries’ competition.
Amnesty International praises Argentina’s same-sex marriage landmark bill
Amnesty International welcomed Argentina's landmark decision on Thursday to become the first country in Latin America to legalize same-sex marriage.
Hundreds of dead penguins washed up on Brazilian beaches
Hundreds of penguins have been washed up dead on the beaches of Brazil southern state of Sao Paulo.
Peru and Chile agree on confidence building measures in defence affairs
Peruvian Defence Minister Rafael Rey said this week that representatives from Chile and Peru would meet next Monday for the first time in an effort to establish common criteria for approving military expenditures. Rey also said he would meet with his Chilean counterpart, Jaime Ravinet, in Lima in August.
Argentine only has natural gas reserves for the next seven years
Argentina’ natural gas reserves dropped to half their 2000 level when they totalled 378.862 million cubic metres, which means at the current consumption rate in seven and a half years the country will ran out of the vital fuel, according to a report released this week in Buenos Aires.
Forty million world-wide learning Chinese at Confucius Institutes
Over 40 million people are learning the Chinese language and interest keeps growing as Beijing’s international influence expands world wide according to Xu Lin, Director of the Institute to promote the language overseas and head of the Confucius Institute. ”Achievements are noticeable in the promotion of Chinese language and culture.
Lan Chile renews fleet and purchases 50 Airbus A320 family
Chile’s flag air carrier Lan Airlines S.A. and its subsidiaries, one of the leading airlines in Latin America, announced Tuesday an agreement for the purchase of 50 modern Airbus A320 family aircraft to be delivered between 2012 and 2016.
UK airline orders 35 Brazilian aircraft worth 1.3 billion USD
British airline Flybe has struck a deal with Brazilian plane manufacturer Embraer to buy 35 aircraft worth 1.3 billion US dollars, as it drives expansion in continental Europe. The announcement was done Tuesday during the Farnborough Air Show in England.
Spain’s 2010 tourism receipts down for the third year running
For the third year running Spain tourism receipts will fall in 2010 according to the Exeltur, the Alliance for Tourism Excellence which brings together the country’s industry. The latest data indicates that real receipts this year will drop an estimated 2.4% to 37.2 billion US dollars following a 10.6% fall in 2009 and 1% in 2008.
Whisky Galore” rare bottle of Ballantine’s to be auctioned next August
A rare bottle of whisky salvaged from a shipwreck, on which the novel and film Whisky Galore were based, is to go under the hammer in Scotland. The bottle of Ballantine's is thought to have been recovered from the wreck of SS Politician in the 1950s or 1960s.
